Start: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Though he wasn’t an elite fantasy receiver last season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans was consistently a starting-caliber option. He finished the year with 1,255 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, and he rarely had disappointing weeks.

Of his 17 games in 2023, Evans either recorded four-plus receptions, 50-plus yards or a touchdown in 14 of them.

Evens is a must-start this week against the visiting Washington Commanders. Washington did little to upgrade one of the league’s worst secondaries during the offseason and should again be susceptible to opposing receivers—only the Philadelphia Eagles allowed more fantasy points to the position last year.

The Commanders should also have an improved offense with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in the fold. That could lead to some offensive back-and-forth, which would give Evan repeated opportunities to make plays.

Sit: Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns wideout Amari Cooper was very similar to Evans in 2023. He wasn’t an upper-echelon fantasy receiver, but it was usually hard to justify keeping him on the bench.

Cooper finished with 1,250 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

However, Week 1 is one of the rare matchups in which it’s worth sitting Cooper. The Dallas Cowboys allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers last season, and Cooper is likely to regularly face Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs on Sunday.

The other issue for Cooper is that Cleveland’s offense could see some significant growing pains in Week 1. Quarterback Deshaun Watson didn’t see the field in the preseason, and the Browns have big questions at offensive tackle—Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones all suffered season-ending injuries in 2023.

It’ll be hard for Cleveland to generate any big plays against Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and the Dallas pass rush.